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MF3545 Striped and Spotted Cucumber Beetle: Insect Pests Of

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MF3545 Striped and Spotted Cucumber Beetle: Insect Pests Of Striped and Spotted Cucumber Beetle Insect Pests of Vegetable Gardens The striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum, and the underside, and has pale legs with black “knee” joints. spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata The spotted cucumber beetle adult has 12 black spots howardi, are insect pests of vegetable gardens that feed on on the wing covers (Figure 2), and the underside of the plants in the Curcurbitaceae (cucurbit) family including: abdomen is yellow. cantaloupe, cucumber, muskmelon, pumpkin, squash, watermelon, and zucchini. This publication provides infor- In spring when the ambient air temperature is greater mation on the biology and damage associated with striped than 54°F (12°C), striped cucumber beetle adults move and spotted cucumber beetles, and the management strate- into vegetable gardens from border areas or overwintering gies that can be used to prevent plant damage caused by sites. Adults feed on cucurbit plants, and then the females striped and spotted cucumber beetles. and males mate (Figure 3). Striped cucumber beetle adult females lay 200 to 1,200 eggs in the soil at the base of Biology cucurbit plants. Larvae emerge (eclose) from eggs and feed on plant roots for two to three weeks and then pupate Striped and spotted cucumber adults are approximately in the soil. Striped cucumber beetle adults emerge in late 1/4 inches (6.3 mm) long and yellow-green. A striped summer to start a second generation. Spotted cucumber cucumber beetle adult has three black stripes that extend beetle adults are present later in the growing season. Both lengthwise on the abdomen (Figure 1), which is black on striped and spotted cucumber beetle adults are attracted to the yellow flower color and the plant volatiles (odors) emitted by the leaves and flowers of cucurbit plants. The life cycle, from egg to adult, is completed in four to six weeks depending on soil temperature. For example, the life cycle can be completed in approximately 50 days when the soil temperature is 70°F (20.9°C) and 25 days when the soil temperature is 86°F (29.7°C). Striped cucumber beetle overwinters as an adult in the upper 0.78 to 1.2 inches (2 to 3 cm) of the soil or in debris or residues from previous cucurbit crops. Spotted cucumber beetle adults do not overwinter in northern areas but instead migrate from Figure 1. Striped cucumber beetle adult. (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) southern states each year. In addition, spotted cucumber Figure 2. Spotted cucumber beetle adult. (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) Figure 3. Striped cucumber beetle adults mating. (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service beetle adult females lay eggs in the soil among corn and Striped cucumber beetle adults feed on more different grasses, so larvae do not feed on the roots of cucurbit types of cucurbit crops than spotted cucumber beetle plants. There can be two or more generations during the adults. Striped cucumber beetle adults feed on leaves, growing season. stems, flowers, and fruit. Feeding by adults creates holes in leaves (Figure 5) and small openings (cavities) in Damage plant stems. Striped cucumber beetle larvae feed on the roots of Spotted cucumber beetle adults feed primarily on the cucurbit plants, which reduces growth, stunts plants, leaves and flowers of cucurbit plants (Figure 6). Feeding and/or kills young seedlings or transplants, especially when damage to flowers can reduce fruit set and yields. Only populations are extensive. For example, striped cucumber striped cucumber beetle adults feed on watermelon, musk- beetle larvae feeding on the roots of pumpkin and squash melon, and pumpkin rinds, which may result in scarring plants can stunt growth and delay fruit development and later in the growing season (Figure 7). Mature cucurbit maturity. Spotted cucumber beetle larvae do not feed on plants are less attractive to cucumber beetle adults because the roots of cucurbit plants. they produce lower levels of cucurbitacin, a volatile chemical compound or odor emitted by the leaves and Striped cucumber beetle adults emerge from the soil in the flowers of cucurbit plants. Cucurbitacin attracts cucumber spring and feed on the leaves of cucurbit plants that were beetle adults, which allows them to find plants later in the started from seeds or transplanted into the garden growing season. (Figure 4). Pumpkin and squash are highly susceptible to striped cucumber beetle feeding, which begins immediately Striped and spotted cucumber beetle adults can transmit after plants have emerged from the soil. Extensive feeding the disease; bacterial wilt of cucurbits, Erwinia tracheiphila. by adults early in the growing season can kill seedlings Striped cucumber beetle adults can transmit the disease and/or transplants. Striped cucumber beetle adult feeding early in the growing season. Young plants are more suscep- that occurs later in the season causes plant stunting and tible to the bacterial wilt disease than plants that mature reduced fruit set, especially when adults feed on flowers. In later in the growing season. Newly emerged striped late summer, striped cucumber beetle adults can damage cucumber beetle adults acquire the bacteria by feeding the rind of pumpkins, squash, and melons. on infected plants causing their mouthparts to become Figure 4. Striped cucumber beetle adults feeding on plant leaves. Figure 6. Spotted cucumber beetle adults feeding on cucurbit flower. (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) Figure 5. Feeding by striped cucumber beetle adults creates holes in leaves. Figure 7. Scarring on rind of pumpkin caused by striped cucumber beetle (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) adult feeding. (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) K-State Research and Extension | 2 contaminated. Later in the growing season, spotted immediately. The only way to keep cucurbit plants from cucumber beetle adults can transmit the bacteria to other being infected with the bacterial wilt disease is to prevent plants by creating feeding wounds that allow the bacteria cucumber beetle adults from feeding. to enter. Infection also can occur when cucumber beetle adults deposit excrement or frass containing the bacteria Scouting onto fresh feeding wounds on the leaves and flowers. Look for striped cucumber beetle adults when seedlings Once inside the plant, the bacteria reproduces within the emerge or after transplants have been planted into the water-conducting tissues (xylem) of plants, and then blocks garden. Continue scouting for both striped and spotted the vascular system causing leaves to wilt (Figure 8). Plants cucumber beetle adults later in the growing season. Scout wilt seven to 21 days after being infected by the bacterial the vegetable garden three to four times a week during the wilt disease. Cucumber beetle adults acquire the bacteria growing season as early detection of infestations can miti- by feeding on an infected plant and then can transmit to a gate plant damage and transmission of the bacterial wilt healthy plant when feeding. The blend of volatiles (odors) disease by cucumber beetle adults. emitted by wilting plants attract cucumber beetle adults, Cultural thus facilitating spread of the disease. The bacteria over- winters in the digestive tract of striped cucumber beetle Use transplants rather than sowing seeds directly into the adults. Cucumber, muskmelon, squash, and pumpkin are garden soil. Transplants can withstand cucumber beetle susceptible to the bacterial wilt disease, whereas water- adult feeding better than seedlings and small plants, which melon is resistant. are highly susceptible to feeding and to the bacterial wilt disease. Place straw mulch around plants (Figure 9) to Management provide shelter or refuge for wolf spiders (lycosids) and other predators such as ground beetles (carabids) that feed The management of striped and spotted cucumber beetle on cucumber beetle larvae. adults is important to reduce plant damage and transmis- sion of the bacterial wilt disease. Because nothing can Sanitation, Physical Removal, and Sticky be done to save cucurbit plants that are infected with Traps the bacterial wilt disease, they should be disposed of Sanitation practices such as the removal of crop debris or residues will help reduce populations of overwintering striped cucumber beetle adults. In addition, weeds within and around the vegetable garden should be removed because they may serve as a source for the bacterial wilt disease. Remove cucumber beetle adults by hand three to four times a week to reduce plant damage. Place yellow sticky cards among cucurbit crops to capture cucumber beetle adults. This will assist in timing insecticide applications to coincide with the presence of cucumber beetle adults. Figure 8. Plant displaying symptoms of bacterial wilt of cucurbits. (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) Figure 9. Straw mulch placed around plants provides shelter for beneficial Figure 10. Floating row cover protects plants from cucumber beetle adult insects. (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) feeding. (Photo: Raymond Cloyd) K-State Research and Extension | 3 Protective Coverings cucurbit crop is planted. Allow time for trap plants to attract cucumber beetle adults that can then be killed with Place floating row covers over cucurbit plants (Figure 10) an insecticide application before they have a chance to to prevent cucumber beetle adults from feeding and trans- move onto the main crop. mitting the bacterial wilt disease. Floating row covers allow rain and sunlight to enter but have to be removed to Insecticides allow bees (e.g., honey bees and bumble bees) to pollinate cucurbit crops. The edges of floating row covers should Insecticides should be applied when overwintering be firmly secured to prevent cucumber beetle adults from striped cucumber beetle adults are present in the spring. crawling underneath. Reflective, aluminum-coated cover- This reduces feeding, prevents mating and egg-laying by ings (Figure 11) are effective in repelling cucumber beetle females, and mitigates transmission of the bacterial wilt adults, which can reduce feeding damage and transmission disease. During peak striped cucumber beetle adult activity, of the bacterial wilt disease.
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